Policy

Audit and Verification System

The Public Sector Audit and Verification System (AVS) was initiated as a pilot reform integrating audit, analysis, reporting and policy to facilitate further improvements in public sector safety and injury management performance. A review of the pilot program has been completed and the AVS has been refocused on managing WHS risk through risk-based auditing and agency self- assessment.

AVS 2.0 provides an independent external review of risk management processes and systems for ongoing improvement in work, health and safety across the South Australian Public Sector.

What is different about the AVS?

The AVS requires that public sector agencies demonstrate:

work health and safety performance is aligned with agency business objectives and outcomes

safety management systems are effective and have a focus on continuous improvement

risk management strategies are relevant to the nature and scale of agency risks.

The audit approach links work health and safety management systems with performance outcomes. It emphasises what must go right in order to reduce injury risks and achieve early return to work. The focus is to test the agency’s safety and injury management systems to find out if they work in practice.

The AVS takes a risk-based approach which is less resource intensive, and has a significantly reduced focus on compliance which allows the public sector to cut red tape while continuing to improve performance. The AVS also has greatly reduced documentation requirements, reducing the administrative burden on agencies.

How does the AVS work?

Independent external auditors, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (Deloitte), have been engaged to provide the external auditing services to deliver the AVS.

Further information to assist agencies with planning and implementation will be provided in the near future.